59 Migrants Drown in Deadliest Shipwreck Off Greece in 2023
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – At least 59 migrants drowned early on Wednesday when their boat capsized and sank off Greece, the country’s coast guard said.
Around 100 people were rescued, but it remained unclear how many were on board when the vessel went under, the authorities said, Reuters reported.
The shipwreck was the deadliest off Greece in 2023.
The coast guard said the boat was en route to Italy.
It was spotted in international waters late on Tuesday by an aircraft belonging to European Union border agency Frontex and two nearby vessels, around 80km south-west of the town of Pylos in southern Greece.
It said those on board had refused assistance offered by Greek authorities late on Tuesday.
A few hours later the boat capsized and sank, triggering a search and rescue operation.
State broadcaster ERT said the boat had originated from the Libyan town of Tobruk, which lies south of the Greek island of Crete, with most on board being young men in their 20s.
Their nationalities, as well as where the boat had sailed from, were not immediately confirmed by Greek authorities.
Survivors were taken to the town of Kalamata, the authorities said.
Greece is one of the main routes into the EU for refugees and migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
Most cross to Greek islands from nearby Turkey, but a growing number of boats also undertake a longer, and more dangerous journey from Turkey to Italy via Greece.
About 72,000 refugees and migrants have arrived so far in 2023 in Europe’s frontline countries Italy, Spain, Greece, Malta and Cyprus, according to United Nations data, with the majority landing in Italy.
